For an overview of how public key encryption works, this is an excellent explanation: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=3QnD2c4Xovk#%21 Public Key Cryptography: Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange]. GPG is a tool that does several things, but mostly it is used to generate a public/private key pair and maintains a user's '''keychain''' - the set of public keys from all their contacts. Thunderbird is an email client, and Enigmail is the plug-in that uses GPG for that platform to integrate that into a user's email account.

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For an overview of how public key encryption works, this is an excellent explanation: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=3QnD2c4Xovk#%21 Public Key Cryptography: Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange].

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GPG is a tool that does several things, but mostly it is used to generate a public/private key pair and maintains a user's '''keychain''' - the set of public keys from all their contacts. Thunderbird is an email client, and Enigmail is the plug-in that uses GPG for that platform to integrate that into a user's email account.

The first step is to install GPG for your platform. There are instructions for Linux, Mac, and Windows below. After that, the next step is to install Thunderbird, a mail client. You don't need a new email account - this setup works with your existing email account. After confirming that Thunderbird can send/receive email, Enigmail plug-in can be installed and configured to use the GPG on your platform. The next step is generate a public-private key pair, and publish your public key (so others can find your public key to send you encrypted email). Then finally you can send an encrypted email!

The first step is to install GPG for your platform. There are instructions for Linux, Mac, and Windows below. After that, the next step is to install Thunderbird, a mail client. You don't need a new email account - this setup works with your existing email account. After confirming that Thunderbird can send/receive email, Enigmail plug-in can be installed and configured to use the GPG on your platform. The next step is generate a public-private key pair, and publish your public key (so others can find your public key to send you encrypted email). Then finally you can send an encrypted email!

GPG is a tool that does several things, but mostly it is used to generate a public/private key pair and maintains a user's keychain - the set of public keys from all their contacts. Thunderbird is an email client, and Enigmail is the plug-in that uses GPG for that platform to integrate that into a user's email account.

The first step is to install GPG for your platform. There are instructions for Linux, Mac, and Windows below. After that, the next step is to install Thunderbird, a mail client. You don't need a new email account - this setup works with your existing email account. After confirming that Thunderbird can send/receive email, Enigmail plug-in can be installed and configured to use the GPG on your platform. The next step is generate a public-private key pair, and publish your public key (so others can find your public key to send you encrypted email). Then finally you can send an encrypted email!